Scottish referee strike forces 15 weekend games to be cancelled as decisions row threatens to drag on

A bitter strike by referees has forced the cancellation of almost three-quarters of all football matches in Scotland’s professional leagues this weekend.

The six fixtures scheduled in the Scottish Premier League – the country’s top flight – will go ahead following the last-minute arrival of officials from Israel, Malta and Luxembourg.

But all 15 games in Scottish Football League – the three divisions below – have been axed after more than 30 referees downed whistles.

Ref that sparked the row: Dougie McDonald, centre, admitted lying over a penalty he refused to award Celtic, causing the club to call for his resignation or sacking

The crisis deepened when backup Portuguese refs flew back to their home country in support of their Scottish counterparts who are angry about abuse from managers and fans.

Polish officials also pulled out with 24 hours to go yesterday after an earlier pledge to help in what has been one of the most turbulent weeks in the history of Scottish football.

DID TOP REF RESIGN OVER 'ANTI-CATHOLIC' EMAIL?

Scottish referee chief Hugh Dallas has reportedly resigned following a row over an offensive email about the Pope.

The Catholic Church called for the SFA to sack him earlier this week if it was proved he passed on a ‘tasteless message’ relating to the Pontiff's visit to Britain in September.

The alleged email is particularly controversial
in Scotland because of its history of sectarianism.

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan launched an internal inquiry after details of the alleged email surfaced in the press.

Yesterday it was claimed that Mr Dallas, a world cup official (pictured above), had resigned.

But SFA president George Peat today distanced himself from reports saying: ‘I read reports in the papers this morning that some people have resigned but I don't know and I can't get involved in it.’

Despite assurances from the Scottish Football Association that it would take a firm line with clubs questioning decisions, officials have refused to call off their strike.

It threatens to continue for weeks to come, with potentially hundreds of games being cancelled.

The SFA has tried to coral other nations’ referees to help out but with little success.

It is claimed that Portuguese officials, who flew back home hours after arriving in Glasgow yesterday, were initially not told the reasons for the strike

Dutch referees had followed those in Iceland and Norway in rejecting the SFA's approach, with Irish, Welsh, Estonian and Swedish officials having indicated that they too would be unwilling to provide cover.

At the root of the dispute was a decision three weeks ago in which a penalty was not rewarded to Celtic – Scotland’s biggest club, formed 123 years ago by Irish Catholic immigrants.Referee Dougie McDonald, admitted lying to the club about rescinding a spot kick in a game against Dundee United.

Celtic chairman John Reid, who served as health, defence and home secretaries in the former Labour government, demanded McDonald resign.

‘His position is completely untenable. The SFA's position on this issue is also untenable,’ he said.

‘Bold, radical action’ to combat ‘stories of lies, conspiracies and cover-ups’ had to be taken .

It sparked a row that was further inflamed by the usual suggestions of suggestions of religious sectarianism that continue to plague Scottish football.

Fans of Celtic, who together with fierce rivals Rangers – many of whose supporters claim allegiance to the symbols of Protestantism and, to a lesser extent, Ulster unionism – have long complained they are seen as not a properly Scottish institution by the SFA.

Adding to the heat, Mr Reid said: ‘We're not asking for special treatment, but neither will we be treated as less than anyone else. Those days are gone.’

Anger: Former Cabinet minister John Reid, with Celtic manager Neil Lennon (right), hinted that sectarianism may be at play, saying: ¿We're not asking for special treatment, but neither will we be treated as less than anyone else. Those days are gone.¿

Neil Lennon, Celtic's manager, former player and Northern Ireland international, has been banished to the stands after touchline shouting matches with officials.

Mr Lennon is not the only manager to face such a fate.

The Hearts manager, Jim Jefferies, and Aberdeen boss, Mark McGhee, are among others who have also had flare-ups with officials.

It was against this backdrop that the officials called the strike.

On it own, the action would be a crisis, but it comes amid another high-octane refereeing controversy as last night, Hugh Dallas, the head of Scottish refereeing and one of the most respected officials in the game, resigned from the Scottish Football Association.

Dallas had been the subject of an internal disciplinary hearing over an allegedly anti-Catholic email which was sent from his work address.

In September, as Pope Benedict arrived in Scotland for his state visit, an email left Dallas's account carrying a cartoon.

Above a reference to the papal visit, it had a school crossing sign with an adult holding a child's hand and the word ‘caution’.

Also last week, Jeanette Findlay, of the Celtic Supporters Trust, went to the Scottish Parliament to demand an independent review.

She told MSPs: ‘We have a right to question some of the things that have been going on without being abused.’